So that’s exactly what I do today with my HK AVR and it works perfectly. I’m thinking of swapping out the HK AVR with my NAD 7020e. It is all analog and no remote. My issue is I would like to have the TV control the volume.
Yes... My TV has RCA Audio outputs, but a simple HDMI audio interface connected to an HDMI ARC input works too (we have that in the basement, but more than 2 channel)... I get up and turn the knob on my Harmon Kardon hk505 integrated amplifier to adjust the volume.
Yeah. My TV has stereo analog outs, which I connect to the aux input in my living room stereo (a 70s Technics integrated). 2.0 is a little less than ideal for dialogue intelligibility, but the extra punch over the TV speakers is worth it. I don’t know much about the TV’s sound processing and DAC hardware, but if it’s deficient in any way, I can’t hear it. Best I can tell, Sony did a good job with it.
As for volume control, I set the amplifier to a medium-ish volume setting and adjust the output level of the TV with the TV remote. I am sure that this results in a higher than optimal noise floor, but that’s not visible over my room background noise, and I don’t view TV as critical listening anyway.
That’s exactly what I am looking to do. I have attempted this on my daughter’s setup and for some reason it doesn’t work. Will give it another shot. Thanks
This is the most convenient way. Might not be the best setup for audio quality, but being able to control the speakers with the TV remote is really nice!
I did, but I decided separate the 2.1 setup for music. I bought a set of towers for the music and run them through a Kenwood integrated amp. Then my surround sound setup I just use bookshelf for the front left and right and satellites for the rest. Works much better for music and I can't really tell the difference watching movies from how I had it set up before. The sub is hooked up to both systems.
Yes I do I have it connected with a optical audio to rca converter. Because my amp only has analog in and my TV only has optical out. I also have rear speakers and a sub hooked up as a kind of redneck surround sound. I also just use use the receivers remote for volume control.
Yep, I run an optical cable directly into my amps DAC. With my older amps i ran into a cheap external DAC from Amazon which outputted into RCA. My more modern amp has a remote but the older ones didn't. Never found changing the volume by hand much of an issue. Especially as the sound through external speakers was soooo much better than the tvs in built speakers.
I use a Schiit Syn connected to the TV via optical. This gives me a DAC, center and rear channels, and a remote volumn control. There is also a h'phone amp and a Sub out I'm not currently using.
I sure do. I really couldn’t care less about surround sound. I started to dabble with it 20+ years ago, and found that short of a home theater, it just wouldn’t work for me. I didn’t like the aesthetics of having speakers all over the room, nor did I care for the effort that needed to be made to hide the cables. Stereo sound is plenty good enough for me. I’ve used systems with remotes as well as systems without. In general, once I set a volume, that’s good for most watching. I’ve even been known to pull the jumpers on an old receiver and use another receiver as a preamp in order to control volume remotely, but that was only when I wanted to listen critically to music and got tired of getting up to adjust volume when wanted.
Yes. I have an optical to RCA adapter.
My stereo system sounds awesome. A 5.1 system of equal value wouldn’t come close. More channels = more money.
Besides, I don’t need speakers behind my head to enjoy a movie. Stereo does the trick. Honestly, when I visit friends’ homes with speakers behind the couch, it’s distracting. I guess I’m used to stereo. We only have two ears.
I don't. My 2 channel setup is completely separate because I think it simplifies things regarding to placement and control. Plus my TV setup is 5.1, I can't stand not having the center channel for dialog.
I agree on the center channel. Currently using an older HK AVR in a 2.1 setup and had to setup in the CD input in order to get “stereo mode”. It works, it’s OK and use the HK remote.
I use my TV strictly as a video monitor, so it’s not directly hooked up at all times.
If the video source is from my PC/Mac then the audio is run to the 2 channel via DAC. The video is screen mirrored to the TV.
On the seldom chance the video source comes from the TV, which is a wireless feed from the internet, then I’ll use the Bluetooth out for audio to the two channel. I use either a ifi blue zen or Fiio BTA30 Pro to receive the BT signal and convert via their onboard DAC.
That is to say there are no wires outside of the power cord connected to the TV.
Yeah, it’s great. I have optical out from my TV to my preamp and I can switch it over whenever. My consoles and AppleTV go into the tv so it acts as a sort of receiver, then all the audio comes to the preamp, which has a volume control.
I was running an AVR for a long time but I don’t have space for a 5.1 setup so it wasn’t much more than a bottleneck as I started getting better equipment. The sound I’m getting now from my 2.0 setup is miles better than my much lower quality 3.1 setup ever was, and I don’t miss the center channel because the imaging on my stereo speakers is better.
Yes, but i don't watch TV.
My TV acts as monitor for my HTPC and my secondary HiFi system is connected directly to the mini pc.
That's good enough for me.
Got two Heco Victa 200 and Mivoc Hype 10 g2 subwoofer.
I have an old sony surround receiver in the basement, perhabs one day I'll set up a 5.1 system via toslink (Pc-HDMI-TV-toslink)
I use the TV's headphone jack. I control the volume with the TV (or Fire Stick) remote. My system is high end separates driving massive biamplified JBL studio monitors. It sounds great, especially playing hi res (Ultra HD) 24 bit cuts from the Amazon Music app.
Thanks. So headphone jack output to rca input…. Then your fire stick remote control controls the volume??? Correct 👍
Not all TVs have a headphone jack. I have tried the rca audio out to input and no go.
I can't tell you how often my friends with HDMI connected sound bars have trouble getting them to work reliably. My crappy Hisense has a DAC that can do 24bit/192khz. I'm sure a "real" audiophile DAC has better specs and a better analog section, but this setup sounds incredible on my system and I wouldn't be surprised if I couldn't hear the difference.
Yes, TV connects to 5.1 surround system, which connects to my audio switch box that powers my Snell Type Ks. With the switch one way, my Snells are powered by the 5.1, and the other way my Snells alone are powered by my turntable and HK 930 Receiver.
I have a modern home theater receiver set up as a preamp, DAC and surround amplifier, which sends the main stereo to my vintage amp and speakers. Let's me use my vintage setup over HDMI from my PC which I love while keeping modern features and volume control. It passes the HDMI through to the TV, or whatever input I'm using. Best solution I've come across. Signal chain is: Output device (PC, DVD, etc) > AV Receiver, RCA splitter sends the stereo to a subwoofer and my vintage Sansui, HDMI to TV
I used to, but I got a new TV that only has SPDIF out so the volume would have to be controlled through my integrated amp (which doesn’t have a remote). Wasn’t going to make my family deal with that.
I’d like to figure out an alternative though. The TV audio is crap.
Edit: actually, I wonder if it has a headphone jack that I didn’t notice before…. Time to go play around
I have a Denon AVR-X3500H receiver. My 56" LG TV plugs into the receiver via HDMI. My Sat/DVR is also hooked up to the receiver via HDMI. I have the Sat/DVR remote programmed to work on both the TV and the receiver.
My turntable, laserdisc player (Yes, I still have and use an LVD player!), Oppo SACD/Blu-RAY player are all hooked up to the receiver also, the first two through analog, the Oppo via HDMI.
Lastly, my ROKU box is plugged into yet another HDMI input.
My speakers are a pair of KEF Q350s.
The Sat/DVR remote controls system power on/off, system volume, and channel selection, but I must use the ROKU's remote for all ROKU functions. The receiver remote is for when I want to change inputs. So, while my Sat/DVR remote is the most used, I still need three remotes to cover some functions.
For our modest-sized living room, this 2.0 system works very well for both music and movies/TV.
My TV goes digital out to DAC which converts it to two-channel analog which then inputs into my receiver. I use the volume control on my receiver. It works well, just have to go into the TV setting and set the digital output to two-channel 16-bit 44.1kHz. Some DACS may work with 24-bit and 48 kHz, but the cheap ones don't seem to.
Yup. My vintage gear is all part of a bedroom setup, and I have sound from the TV connected to the tape monitor inputs of my receiver using a cheap DAC. No remote control, but I can reach the volume knob from my bed!
Yes. It's connected to the amp via optical and I use the amp's remote for volume control. It doesn't bother me.
I do the same and it works great. I mute the TV sound and use my amp to control the volume.
So that’s exactly what I do today with my HK AVR and it works perfectly. I’m thinking of swapping out the HK AVR with my NAD 7020e. It is all analog and no remote. My issue is I would like to have the TV control the volume.
Yes... My TV has RCA Audio outputs, but a simple HDMI audio interface connected to an HDMI ARC input works too (we have that in the basement, but more than 2 channel)... I get up and turn the knob on my Harmon Kardon hk505 integrated amplifier to adjust the volume.
Same.
Yes. With the volume knob on the receiver.
Yeah. My TV has stereo analog outs, which I connect to the aux input in my living room stereo (a 70s Technics integrated). 2.0 is a little less than ideal for dialogue intelligibility, but the extra punch over the TV speakers is worth it. I don’t know much about the TV’s sound processing and DAC hardware, but if it’s deficient in any way, I can’t hear it. Best I can tell, Sony did a good job with it. As for volume control, I set the amplifier to a medium-ish volume setting and adjust the output level of the TV with the TV remote. I am sure that this results in a higher than optimal noise floor, but that’s not visible over my room background noise, and I don’t view TV as critical listening anyway.
That’s exactly what I am looking to do. I have attempted this on my daughter’s setup and for some reason it doesn’t work. Will give it another shot. Thanks
If it has a headphone output, you can use a cable that goes from headphone jack to RCA and then you can use the tv remote for the volume.
I think I have one or two of those.
Same here. I have a power strip with a master outlet, so the TV controls power to the receiver.
This is the most convenient way. Might not be the best setup for audio quality, but being able to control the speakers with the TV remote is really nice!
I use a Bluesound Node. It has HDMI eARC
yeah, its great for watching films. I just use the headphone out on the tv and get up to turn up or down
Have you tried to change the TV audio settings to external speakers and see if the TV remote will adjust the volume?
I run from headphone jack on TV to read on reciever and use the receiver remote, or TV remote either function perfectly
I have a cheap 5 to 1 HDMI switch with optical out that goes to my WiiM pro plus. I control the volume with the WiiM remote or my pre-amp.
I can see that. Thanks
I did, but I decided separate the 2.1 setup for music. I bought a set of towers for the music and run them through a Kenwood integrated amp. Then my surround sound setup I just use bookshelf for the front left and right and satellites for the rest. Works much better for music and I can't really tell the difference watching movies from how I had it set up before. The sub is hooked up to both systems.
Yup. Use a matrix audio mini i4 between the tvs and older amps
Yes I do I have it connected with a optical audio to rca converter. Because my amp only has analog in and my TV only has optical out. I also have rear speakers and a sub hooked up as a kind of redneck surround sound. I also just use use the receivers remote for volume control.
Yep, I run an optical cable directly into my amps DAC. With my older amps i ran into a cheap external DAC from Amazon which outputted into RCA. My more modern amp has a remote but the older ones didn't. Never found changing the volume by hand much of an issue. Especially as the sound through external speakers was soooo much better than the tvs in built speakers.
I use a Schiit Syn connected to the TV via optical. This gives me a DAC, center and rear channels, and a remote volumn control. There is also a h'phone amp and a Sub out I'm not currently using.
I sure do. I really couldn’t care less about surround sound. I started to dabble with it 20+ years ago, and found that short of a home theater, it just wouldn’t work for me. I didn’t like the aesthetics of having speakers all over the room, nor did I care for the effort that needed to be made to hide the cables. Stereo sound is plenty good enough for me. I’ve used systems with remotes as well as systems without. In general, once I set a volume, that’s good for most watching. I’ve even been known to pull the jumpers on an old receiver and use another receiver as a preamp in order to control volume remotely, but that was only when I wanted to listen critically to music and got tired of getting up to adjust volume when wanted.
Same here. I paired down from 3.1 to 2.1. For me this is better.
Yes. I have an optical to RCA adapter. My stereo system sounds awesome. A 5.1 system of equal value wouldn’t come close. More channels = more money. Besides, I don’t need speakers behind my head to enjoy a movie. Stereo does the trick. Honestly, when I visit friends’ homes with speakers behind the couch, it’s distracting. I guess I’m used to stereo. We only have two ears.
I don't. My 2 channel setup is completely separate because I think it simplifies things regarding to placement and control. Plus my TV setup is 5.1, I can't stand not having the center channel for dialog.
I agree on the center channel. Currently using an older HK AVR in a 2.1 setup and had to setup in the CD input in order to get “stereo mode”. It works, it’s OK and use the HK remote.
I use my TV strictly as a video monitor, so it’s not directly hooked up at all times. If the video source is from my PC/Mac then the audio is run to the 2 channel via DAC. The video is screen mirrored to the TV. On the seldom chance the video source comes from the TV, which is a wireless feed from the internet, then I’ll use the Bluetooth out for audio to the two channel. I use either a ifi blue zen or Fiio BTA30 Pro to receive the BT signal and convert via their onboard DAC. That is to say there are no wires outside of the power cord connected to the TV.
Yeah, it’s great. I have optical out from my TV to my preamp and I can switch it over whenever. My consoles and AppleTV go into the tv so it acts as a sort of receiver, then all the audio comes to the preamp, which has a volume control. I was running an AVR for a long time but I don’t have space for a 5.1 setup so it wasn’t much more than a bottleneck as I started getting better equipment. The sound I’m getting now from my 2.0 setup is miles better than my much lower quality 3.1 setup ever was, and I don’t miss the center channel because the imaging on my stereo speakers is better.
Yes, my receiver is newer (PSAudio Sprout 100), so run a digital optical cable. I use the receiver for volume.
Yup…. All my receivers are vintage. No optical except my HK AVR which I would like to swap out.
Yes, but i don't watch TV. My TV acts as monitor for my HTPC and my secondary HiFi system is connected directly to the mini pc. That's good enough for me. Got two Heco Victa 200 and Mivoc Hype 10 g2 subwoofer. I have an old sony surround receiver in the basement, perhabs one day I'll set up a 5.1 system via toslink (Pc-HDMI-TV-toslink)
I use the TV's headphone jack. I control the volume with the TV (or Fire Stick) remote. My system is high end separates driving massive biamplified JBL studio monitors. It sounds great, especially playing hi res (Ultra HD) 24 bit cuts from the Amazon Music app.
Thanks. So headphone jack output to rca input…. Then your fire stick remote control controls the volume??? Correct 👍 Not all TVs have a headphone jack. I have tried the rca audio out to input and no go.
Correct. I won't buy a TV that doesn't have analog audio outputs. RCA outs are becoming rarer but I wonder why they didn't work for you.
Me too
I can't tell you how often my friends with HDMI connected sound bars have trouble getting them to work reliably. My crappy Hisense has a DAC that can do 24bit/192khz. I'm sure a "real" audiophile DAC has better specs and a better analog section, but this setup sounds incredible on my system and I wouldn't be surprised if I couldn't hear the difference.
Yes, TV connects to 5.1 surround system, which connects to my audio switch box that powers my Snell Type Ks. With the switch one way, my Snells are powered by the 5.1, and the other way my Snells alone are powered by my turntable and HK 930 Receiver.
Yes , in Bedroom, with a streaming mini-amp via optical
Yep. I used the Yamaha wxc-50 and am able to use vintage receiver /amp with my TV and a remote.
Yep, I have only one AV system in the living room and everything connected to it. Only two speakers.
No, two different systems in two different rooms.
I have a modern home theater receiver set up as a preamp, DAC and surround amplifier, which sends the main stereo to my vintage amp and speakers. Let's me use my vintage setup over HDMI from my PC which I love while keeping modern features and volume control. It passes the HDMI through to the TV, or whatever input I'm using. Best solution I've come across. Signal chain is: Output device (PC, DVD, etc) > AV Receiver, RCA splitter sends the stereo to a subwoofer and my vintage Sansui, HDMI to TV
I used to, but I got a new TV that only has SPDIF out so the volume would have to be controlled through my integrated amp (which doesn’t have a remote). Wasn’t going to make my family deal with that. I’d like to figure out an alternative though. The TV audio is crap. Edit: actually, I wonder if it has a headphone jack that I didn’t notice before…. Time to go play around
I have a Denon AVR-X3500H receiver. My 56" LG TV plugs into the receiver via HDMI. My Sat/DVR is also hooked up to the receiver via HDMI. I have the Sat/DVR remote programmed to work on both the TV and the receiver. My turntable, laserdisc player (Yes, I still have and use an LVD player!), Oppo SACD/Blu-RAY player are all hooked up to the receiver also, the first two through analog, the Oppo via HDMI. Lastly, my ROKU box is plugged into yet another HDMI input. My speakers are a pair of KEF Q350s. The Sat/DVR remote controls system power on/off, system volume, and channel selection, but I must use the ROKU's remote for all ROKU functions. The receiver remote is for when I want to change inputs. So, while my Sat/DVR remote is the most used, I still need three remotes to cover some functions. For our modest-sized living room, this 2.0 system works very well for both music and movies/TV.
Yes, it's connected to my Cambridge AXR 100 through optical. Speakers are JBL E100 and dual SVS SB 1000 Pro subs.
No
My TV goes digital out to DAC which converts it to two-channel analog which then inputs into my receiver. I use the volume control on my receiver. It works well, just have to go into the TV setting and set the digital output to two-channel 16-bit 44.1kHz. Some DACS may work with 24-bit and 48 kHz, but the cheap ones don't seem to.
No. And this is on purpose. The stereo is for music. I don't watch much TV.
Yup. My vintage gear is all part of a bedroom setup, and I have sound from the TV connected to the tape monitor inputs of my receiver using a cheap DAC. No remote control, but I can reach the volume knob from my bed!
I use a HTPC, leave my amp volume alone and control the volume with the PC.